Oklahoma storms to Freestyle Junior Duals Championship

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The 2014 Freestyle Junior National Duals concluded with a bang Saturday night, as the hometown heroes from Oklahoma capped off an electrifying tournament with a 38-29 win over Minnesota in the championship finals.

Montori Bridges got Oklahoma off to a fast start earning a quick first period fall over Minnesota’s Brent Jones at 113 lbs.

In a risky move, Oklahoma would forfeit 170 lbs. to Minnesota phenom Mark Hall, electing instead to bump Chandler Rogers up to 182 lbs. to face Keegan Moore. Down 4-0 Rogers stepped over a Moore gutwrench, and picked up a fall in what would be the duals defining moment.

“The coaches decided to gamble a little bit and put me up,” Rogers said. “That one was just so special. After Greco I was so disappointed that our team fell off the rims and when I got thrown I was like, I am not letting this thing fall off the rims this time. To get the pin like that, it was amazing.”

Joel Dixon, Andrew Dixon, Korey Walker and Mason Nafieh would sweep the next four weights for Oklahoma to seal the victory in front of the hometown crowd.

Oklahoma head freestyle coach Bobby Cook guided the state to its first Freestyle Junior Duals championship since 2002.

“With this being the last year it is in Oklahoma, it was significant for us to try and put this team together and have a legit opportunity to win it,” Cook said.

Michigan capped off a strong tournament with a 33-29 victory over New Jersey in the third place match. Michigan won the Greco-Roman Junior Duals earlier in the week.

Four-time defending champion Illinois wound up in fifth place overall, defeating Iowa 49-16 in the fifth place dual.